It was only a matter of time before THQ and Yukes brought its WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise to Sony’s handheld and when it did last year it was one of the most impressive grappling games to come to the PSP. It not only brought all the game modes found on the console version but the game also added exclusives as well as a deep Creation mode. So you see, it was exciting news to hear the SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 because we come to expect more wrestling goodness you can take with you anywhere you go.

On the surface, SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 brings us all the things we loved about the 2006 game including an updated roster of superstars and some new gameplay features. Do you remember the deep and involving General Manager Mode? Well, it’s back as is the fun Season Mode as well. Even with the improvements, though, SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is actually a step down from last year’s game and that’s thanks to some glaring faults that are too hard to ignore. Still, this isn’t to say this is a bad game. In fact, what the game does right is give us a wrestling game that actually feels good.

If anything the game is true to its motto: you just don’t watch it you live it. Season Mode, for example, allows you to pick your favorite superstar and live out a WWE season. You watch as all the usual WWE madness unfolds before you and quickly involves your chosen grappler. Let’s say you pick Triple H, he starts off fighting the Big Show when suddenly Carlito and his buddies Chavo and Daivari jump up on stage claiming your victory as their own and thus forcing you to join their camp. You can either accept their friendship or you can brush them off, apologize to the Big Show and join forces with the big guy to help you defeat Chavo and his posse. Before you know it you’re deeply involved in a number of events as you make alliances or make enemies along the way.

General Manager Mode is also a deep and involving game mode that will have you deeply invested in all the wheeling and dealings of a General Manager for either the SmackDown or the Raw side. It is here that you take control of every detail including hiring writers and managing your superstars. At the start of the game, WWE owner Vince McMahon lays down the law by telling you that it is you versus the GM of the other side in a competition to see who puts on the best shows. The winner who has the most loyal fan base will win the General Manager of the Year Award while the loser will be fired. Coming up with your own shows, rivalries and events are actually more fun than it sounds.

You can, of course, simply pick a number of matches already available just for the fun of it. If Battle Royale matches or backstage brawls are your cup of tea you they’re available from the very start. New to the list is Money In The Bank, a match similar to a Ladder match with the exception that there are four grapplers in the ring attempting to climb a ladder to reach a briefcase with money. It’s a great match type and a worthy substitute for the lack of a Bra & Panties match or Fulfill Your Fantasy match (sorry boys). There even a number of tag team matches, triple threat matches as well as a Championship match you can create yourself. The best addition is a game mode called Road To WrestleMania that allows you to play a quick tournament or create your own in a mode that has you attempting to make it to one of WWE’s most popular events. You can even create your own Pay per View event in PPV Mode.

As far as the controls are concerned, the new analog control works beautifully on the PSP and makes for some smooth moves. It’s easy to pull off complex moves this time around and this gives you a chance to keep an eye on important factors such as your fatigue level or how injured you are during a match. Best yet, the game adds Environmental Hotspots, which pretty much means you can take the fight outside the ring in a number of different spots within the arena. You can, for example, jump over the barricade where the fans are and dish out some pain by slamming your opponent’s head on the barricade or grab a fan’s sign and break it over his or her head.

On to the bad news, the game suffers from heavy lag that just doesn’t pertain to the Ad Hoc multiplayer mode but throughout the single-player mode as well. This, of course, is a major annoyance that often leads to missed punches or choke slams. Secondly, the long load times are back, although - on a lighter note -they’re not as frequent as the first game. Lastly, the game feels short on bonus modes. There are no Blackjack mini-games here or fun trivia like SmackDown vs. Raw 2006.

Graphically speaking, SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 looks good on the PSP and the superstars just look more natural in the ring than last year’s game. There are even some detailed facial expressions and each superstar has his own unique gestures. Unlock Hulk Hogan and he’ll tear his shirt and flex his muscles like he did in the early years of his career. While the fans look awful, the arenas look amazing and being able to fight away from the ring and take on your opponent among the fans is a real treat.

While the visuals are handled well enough, it’s the sound with its great commentary, voice acting and tunes that steals the show. The commentary team does a great job of setting up each match and recalling past moments a superstar confronted a rival on the ring. They aren’t even repetitive when it comes to making observations during a match. You’ll also hear from your favorite superstars throughout the Season and General Manager Mode whether it’s out in the arena or via a voice mail message. The tunes are of the Godsmack variety so expect some heavy stuff.

While SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 for the PSP isn’t a major improvement over last year’s excellent game, there is still enough here to overlook many of the problems. Really, it’s hard not to like a game that puts you into a full WWE season or fill the roster with new and old favorites. Ok, so the framerate stutter can get annoying but the controls are a major improvement and the Create options are very impressive. If you’re a WWE fan you will like this game but be warned, it’s nowhere near as perfect as it could have been after such a great first game.

Gameplay: 8.5
The new analog control just makes this one a smoother grappler over last year’s game and the new Environmental Hotspots feature just plain rocks. The main game modes are deep and involving as are the dozens of match types (including new favorite Money In The Bank). Unfortunately, the framerate and long load times will annoy.

Graphics: 8.0
The game still looks pretty on the PSP despite the pixilated throngs of fans or the occasional clipping issues. Still, the superstars look good and move naturally enough that you’ll wince at the sight of the Big Show painfully choke-slamming everyone he dislikes. The flashy effects and cool intros feel like you’re watching an actual event.

Sound: 8.9
The commentary is excellent this year and it never repeats no matter how many times you perform the same move in the ring. There’s some solid voice acting from many of your favorite superstars that adds more tension to the “storylines” and the collection of tunes aren’t all bad. Even the sound effects are good in this game.

Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty setting can be changed but the game is appropriately challenging so new and seasoned fans can easily jump into the action. You’ll find that some superstars fight the way you expect them to fight so expect some fast moves from John Cena and slow yet powerful moves from The Big Show.

Concept: 9.0
Once again there’s enough here to keep wrestling fans busy until next year’s release. Both Season and General Manager Mode are just so deliciously deep you’ll be gladly sucked into the rivalries, team ups and treachery you find in most WWE events. The Create modes have more options and the unlockable legends and extras will not fail to impress.

Multiplayer: 7.5
What’s a Battle Royale without inviting a group of friends over to play wirelessly using their favorite grapplers? The Ad Hoc multiplayer mode is good, although like the single-player mode, it also runs into some framerate problems that often get in the way of the action.

Overall: 8.5
SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is actually a step down from last year’s stellar game but with tighter controls and tons of extras, this is still a game that offers enough thrills to keep wrestling fans happy. Sure the awful framerate problems will frustrate as will the long load times but considering the deep single-player modes and the tons of extras, this one might not be perfect but it still has all the right moves.